TNAG-2717-FCO40-3923-House-of-Commons-Select-Committee-on-Foreign-Affairs-enquiry-1993 — Page 64

GREAT BRITAIN-CHINA CENTRE

MEMORANDUM TO THE HOUSE OF COMMONS FOREIGN AFFAIRS COMMITTEE

Background

1.1 The Great Britain-China Centre was set up in 1974 following "The Genius of China" archaeological exhibition, held at the Royal Academy in 1973, which was jointly organised by the Great Britain-China Committee and Times Newspapers. The proceeds from the exhibition were donated by Times Newspapers to establish the Centre and the British Government agreed to support the Centre with an annual grant-in-aid.

1.2 At a time when there was little contact, the Centre was established to promote closer cultural, academic and professional relations between Britain and China, and to promote mutual knowledge and understanding. The Great Britain-China Centre is governed by an Executive Committee, which includes five members of parliament, and has a full-time staff of four plus one part-time member; all staff are Chinese speakers and, like members of the Executive Committee, have first hand knowledge of China.

1.3 The Centre is registered as a company limited by guarantee. In addition to an annual grant-in-aid from the Foreign and Commonwealth Office, the Centre raises funds from the public and private sector and through membership subscriptions. The Centre had a total revenue of £266,000 in 1992/93 of which £210,000 was grant-in-aid.

1.4 The Great Britain-China Educational Trust was set up in 1974 to carry out those activities of the Centre which are charitable in law. The Trust is administered by the Centre and in 1992/93 awarded £40,000 in grants, primarily to students from the People's Republic of China on postgraduate courses in Britain.

Sino-British Relations: cultural exchange

2.1 China is at the heart of the economically buoyant east Asian region. Its population of over one billion people has long been an attractive proposition to Europe's market hungry businessmen. The Open Door policy and the commitment to a "socialist market" have brought a number of welcome reforms, but it remains a totalitarian country under the rule of the Chinese Communist Party. As a major economy, nuclear power and member of the UN Security Council, China plays an important role on the world stage.

2.2 Rapid economic development has brought wealth to China's coastal regions and raised questions about its status as a developing country. The majority of its population, however, remains rural and millions still live in absolute poverty. China's neighbours regard its military strength with some unease and are wary of its ambitions over disputed islands in the South China Sea. China's export driven economy is viewed as a threat by many in Europe and North America. The lack of any substantive political reform and ambivalence to the rule

2